Machine for upsetting metal plates.



C. L. PARMELEE.

MACHINE FOR UPSETTING METAL PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1909. I

PatentedJan. 11, 1910.

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MACHINE FOB. UPSETTING METAL PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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G. L. PARMELEE.

MACHINE FOR UPSETTING METAL PLATES.

APPLIGATIOII nun JAN. 19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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INVENTOR G. L.-PARMELEE.

MACHINE FOR UPSETTING METAL PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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CHARLES LESTER PARMELEE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOE UPSETTING METAL PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Lns'rnn PARMELEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Upsetting Metal Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of so-called lock-bar pipe,that is,pipe com posed of metal plates having their edges thickened or upset and fitting in longitudinally slotted locking bars, the lips or flanges of which slots are bent down firmly on the upset or thickened plate-edges, producing a dovetail joint of great strength.

The invention relates more particularly to apparatus for upsetting the plate-edges, and has for its chief object to provide a simple and effective machine capable of operat ing on plates of various sizes, both tapered and untapered.

To this and other ends the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations of elements hereinafter described, and more particularly set forth in the claims.

The preferred embodiment, exhibiting what at the present time is considered to be the best mode of applying the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, and referring now thereto, Figure l is a plan view of the machine, Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in horizontal section, of the traveling upsetting mechanism, and the devices for bridging the longitudinal space in which said mechanism travels. Fig 4 is a detail view in longitudinal central section. Fig. 5 is a de tail cross section of the traveling upset.- ting mechanism, showing the construction and arrangement of the devices for progressively planing or trimming the plate edges in advance of the upsetting operation. Fig. 6 is a detail cross section showing the construction of the devices for bridging the space in which the upsetting mechanism travels. Fig. 7 is a detail end View showing the fluid-pressure mechanism for operating the clamping devices which hold the plates on the table of the machine. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view showing tapered plates positioned on the table. Fig. 9 is a detail cross section of a lock-bar pipe, showing the upset plates connected by the locking bar.

1 designates a table of suitable form and size, for supporting the plates 2, 3, during the upsetting operation. Extending longitudinally of the table is an open space 4, and above the edges of the table at said opening is a frame composed of longitudinal and transverse I-beams 5, 6, constituting a clamping frame for holding the plates firmly on the table. This fame is raised and lowered by means of vertical fluidpressure cylinders 7, 8, 9, 10, the pistons 11 of which are secured to members 12 suitably fastened between the longitudinal Lbeams at the ends of the latter. The fluid for actuating the pistons is delivered to the cylinders at either end thereof by pipes 13, 14:, connected through three-way valve 15 to supply pipes 16. These valves may be of any convenient and well known construction, such that fluid may be delivered into pipe 13 or pipe let at will, the fluid in the opposite end of the cylinder being discharged through the waste pipe 17. By the means described the clamping frame can be raised to permit the introduction and withdrawal of a pair'of plates, and can be lowered to clamp the plates securely to the table.

Along one side of the table is a series of abutments 18, against which the outer edge of the plate 2 bears during the upsetting operation, said abutments together constituting a gage to determine the extent to which the other edge of the plate overhangs the central opening 4. The abutments are adjustable in transverse slots 19, in the table, and are pivotally mounted on carriers 19 threaded on screws 20 mounted below said slots. Each abutment is also provided with an arc-shaped slot 21, concentric with its pivot 22, and extending through the slot into the carrier is a binding bolt 23 by which the abutment, when it has been pivotally adjusted on 22 as a center, can be securely fixed in position. The screws 20 are mounted in bearings 24 so as to be incapable of axial movement, but can be rotated, to shift the carriers 19 and abutments 18, by means of hand wheels 25 conveniently arranged at the edge of the table.

At the opposite side of the table are two abutments 26, pivotally mounted on carriers 27 in the same way as the abutments 18 are Cir connected to their carriers 19, and also constituting a gage for the outer edge of plate 3, to determine the extent to which said plate overhangs the central opening 4. The carriers 27 are mounted to slide on guides 23 arranged at the sides of slots 29,-which latter extend transversely of the table to the central opening or space, and are fixed to the pistons or rams 30 of a pair of fluidpressure cylinders 31, 32. The latter are supplied with fluid at either end by pipes 33, 34, connected through suitable three-way valves 35, 36, to supply pipes 37 and waste pipes 38. These valves are similar in construction to those employed with the cylinders 7, 3, 9, 10, so that the actuating fluid may be supplied to either end of cylinders 31, 32, at will, and the pistons thereby retracted or advanced as desired.

At the ends of the central opening 4 are two end members or bearings 39, 40, and rotatably mounted therein is a lead screw 41, on which is a traveler 42 sliding on guides or rails 43. On one end of the lead screw is a worm gear 44, designed to mesh with a power-driven worm, not shown, for rotating the screw in either direction to advance or retract the traveler as desired.

Rotatably mounted at the sides of the traveler near the top thereof are two series of upsetting rollers, 45, 46, ranged to bear on the overhanging edges of the plates 2, 3, as shown. It will therefore be seen that as the traveler moves along the plates, for example in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the upsetting rollers will progressively thicken or upset the plate-edges.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to have the plate edges as straight and free from irreg- .ularities as possible, the edges may be trimmed or planed in advance of the upsetting operation bv the following or equiv; lent instrumentalities. At the forward end of the traveler are two tool-holders, 47, 48, adjustable transversely by means of two screws 49, 50, actuated by hand-wheels 51, 52, said holders being locked in adjusted position by means of set screws 53. Suitably fixed in the outer faces of the holders are two series of planing or trimming tools 5-4, 5, designed to bear on the edges of the plates. It will therefore be seen that as the traveler moves along the plates the trimming tools will trim off the irregularities of the plate edges in advance of the upsetting rollers.

Vith the foregoing description in mind a brief statement of the method of operating the machine will suflice. The clamping frame being raised by the proper actuation of the fluid-pressure mechanisms connected therewith, a plate, for example that indicated by 3, is deposited on the table and pushed under the clamping frame by means of the rams 30 until the edge of the plate is in the proper position with respect to the travelii'ig upsetting device. The clamping frame is now lowered, so as to hold the plate firmly, and the traveler 42, previously moved to the right of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1, is caused to advance along the plate-edge, in which movement the plateedge is trimmed by the tools 55 and thickened or upset by the rollers 46. The traveler is now retracted to its initial position, the clamping frame is raised, and the plate is pushed across the table by the rams 30 until its upset edge bears against the abutments 18, which latter have previously been set so as to leave the unthickened edge of the plate in proper position relative to the traveling upsetting mechanism. The rams are now retracted and another plate arranged in the position previously occupied by the first; and both plates being properly arranged, the clamping frame is lowered and the traveler advanced, thereby trinnning and upsetting the second edge of the first plate and the first edge of the second. The first plate in finished condition, is now removed from the machine, the second plate is pushed across the table bytherams,and the operations described are repeated. The procedure is the same in the case of tapered plates, for example the plates 2 and 3 Fig. 3, except that the abutments 18 and 26 are so arran ed, as clearly indicated in the figure just mentioned, that the inner edges of the plates will lie parallel to the path of the traveling upsetting mechanism.

To obviate any possibility of the plate, es pecially a narrow one, dropping edgewise into the opening in which the upsetting and edge-trimming devices travel, provision may be made as follows for bridging the opening as the said devices travel through the same. Mounted to slide on the rails 43, like the traveler 42, is a series of bridge pieces, 56, the tops of which are flush with the surface of the table. At each end of each bridge piece or member is a pivoted hook 57 (see Figs. 3, 4, and held by spring 58 in position to engage a stud or lug 59 on the adjacent member to the rear. Each hook is provided with an outwardly extending finger 60, the fingers on the various hooks being successively shorter from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 3. On the end of the traveler 42 is a similar pair of hooks, 61, to engage the lugs on the adjacent bridge piece, and arranged at suitable distances apart along the inner edges of the table are inwardly projecting studs 62, increasing in length from right to left, as shown in F From the foregoing it will be seen that as the traveler moves to the left the train of connected bridge-pieces will be drawn along the rails 43. The fingers or triggers of all the hooks but these on the next to the last. bridgepiece will clear the first pair of studs 62, but

as the said bridge piece reaches the first l studs the hooks on the former will be tripped, thereby releasing the last bridgepiece, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. At the next pair of studs the neXt bridge-piece will be released, and so on. Hence when the traveler reaches its leftward position the space in which it moves is spanned by a number of bridge-pieces, lying flush with the table, over which the plate, impelled by the rams 30, can slide safely in its move ment across the table. As the traveler returns to the right of the machine the first bridgepiece is engaged by the hooks 61 and is pushed up to the second, the lugs 59 of which are rengaged by the hooks on the first. In this way the bridge pieces are ice-connected, one after another.

As previously stated, the apparatus herein specifically described is merely the preferred form of the invention, which is capable of various embodiments without departure from its proper scope as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table constituting a support for the plate, means for holding the 1 plate securely thereon, upsetting mechanism I movable along an edge of the table, and transversely movable means constituting a gage to position the plate with respect to the said mechanism and adapted, when actuated, to shift the plate transversely across the table, as set forth.

2. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table constituting a support for the plate, means for holding the plate securely thereon, edge-trimming and u asetting mechanism movable along an edge of the table, and fluid-pressure operated mechanism constituting a gage to position the plate with respect to the first mentioned mechanism and adapted, when actuated, to shift the plate transversely .across the table, as set forth.

8. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table having a longi tudinal opening, means for holding plates securely on opposite sides of said opening, upsetting mechanism movable in said opening, means at one side of the table constituting a gage to position the contiguous plate with respect to the upsetting mechanism, and fluid-pressure operated mechanism at the other side of the table constituting a gage to position the other plate and adapted, when actuated, to shift said plate across the j longitudinal opening to the other side of the same, as set forthl 4. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, l the combination of a table having a longil tudinal opening, upsetting mechanism movj able lengthwise of the opening, means for holding plates securely on opposite sides of l the opening, a series of adjustable abutments at one side of the table, against which the outer edge of one of the plates rests, and fluid-pressure operated abutments at the other side of the table, against which the outer edge of the other plate rests, adapted when actuated to shift the said plate across the longitudinal opening to the other side of the same, as set forth.

5. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table having a longitudinal opening, means for holding plates securely on opposite sides of said opening, a traveler movable lengthwise of the opening, means for actuating said traveler, upsetting rollers mounted on opposite sides of the traveler arranged to engage the edges of the plates adjacent to said opening, and means for positioning the plates with respect to the path of the upsetting rollers, as set forth.

6. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table constituting a support for the plates and having a longitudinal opening; a traveler carrying upsetting devices movable lengthwise of said opening; and means for holding plates securely on the table on opposite sides of the opening, comprising a vertically movable frame spanning the opening, and mechanism for actuating the frame; as set forth.

7. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table, means for holding a plate securely thereon, a traveler movable lengthwise of said table and carrying upsetting devices, laterally adjustable edgetrimming tools carried by the traveler, and mechanism constituting a gage to position the plate with respect to the traveler and adapted, when actuated, to shift the plate transversely of the table, as set forth.

8. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a support for the plate, a series of transversely adjustable abutments at one side of the support constituting a gage to position the plate on the support, manually operated means for adjusting said abutments, upsetting devices at the other side of the plate support, means for producing relative motion between the plate support and the upsetting devices, and fluid pressure operated mechanism for moving the plate on to the table and against the said abutments, as set forth.

9. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a plate-support, upsetting mechanism traveling longitudinally and centrally of the plate support, and means for shifting the plate from one side of the support across the path of the upsetting mechanism to the other side of the support, as set forth.

10. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a plate support, upsetting mechanism traveling along one longitudinal opening,

side of the support, a transversely movable abutment at the opposite side of the support, and fluid-pressure operated mechanism for actuating said abutment, as set forth.

11. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table having a a traveler movable lengthwise of said opening and carrying upsetting devices, means for holding plates securely on the table on opposite sides of said opening, mechanism for shifting plates transversely of the table and across said opening, and means for bridging said open ing during the movement of a plate thereover, as set forth.

12. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table having a longitudinal opening, means for securely holding plates on the table on opposite sides of the opening, traveling upsetting mechanism movable lengthwise of the opening, mechanism for shifting plates transversely of the table across the opening therein, and means associated with the upsetting mechanism for bridging said opening as the said mechanism passes along the same, as set forth.

13. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table having a longitudinal opening, traveling upsetting mechanism movable lengthwise of the open ing, means for shifting plates transversely of the table across the opening therein, a se ries of bridge-pieces connected to the upsetting mechanism, and means for releasing said brie ge-pieces at points along the path of the said mechanism in the rear thereof as the same advances, as set forth.

1%. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a table having a longitudinal opening, upsetting mechanism movable lengthwise in the opening, a series of movable bridge-pieces in the rear of the upsetting mechanism and movable therewith, releasable means associated with the bridgepieces for connecting each with the rearwardly adjacent bridge-piece, and devices arranged along said opening for releasing said means to drop the bridge pieces one after another in the path of the upsetting mechanism, as set forth.

15. In a machine for upsetting metal plates, the combination of a plate-support having a longitudinal opening, means for holding a plate securely on said support on opposite sides of the opening therein, and traveling upsetting mechanism movable lengthwise in said opening, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES LESTER lARMELEE.

IVitnesses E. E. MENTZER, I-IUnsoN N. Mason. 

